16:30 Ripon

Tuesday 29 August 2017

All14:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:0017:30

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Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 2m 3.25s

(6)

Sands Chorus¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: L Morris| T: J G Given| OR: 91| CD

6/1

Has an unblemished record over this C&D with a record of 3/3 making all on each occasion and is always suited by being on the front end of the action. Back to form over a mile last time out here just touched off in the end having had the run of the race again.

Form: 141502

(2)

Mulligatawny^p¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Ben Sanderson⁽⁷⁾| T: R Fell & S Murray| OR: 90| CD

5/1

Gained his only victory for this yard so far over C&D benefitting from the slight ease in grade and being allowed to make all in first-time cheekpieces. Hasn't managed to repeat that form in two runs since and will face competition for the lead here.

Form: 252144

(3)

Mutamaded¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-9| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 85

50/1

Changed stable (formerly with Brian Meehan) when making his handicap debut after three months off at Ayr with the opening mark of 90 looking rather too high. 5lb lower here and may do better but a bit too early to judge yet what he's capable of.

Form: 12/78

(4)

Jacbequick^p⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 9-9| J: Josh Doyle⁽³⁾| T: D O'Meara| OR: 85

14/1

Showed his best form this year when winning at York in July over 1m4f and kept busy after that although his form is getting progressively worse. Ran poorly last twice and has always looked to struggle off mark as high as this and others preferred here.

Form: 318290

(5)

Monticello²⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: F Norton| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 87

13/2

Winner of his first two races as a juvenile he looked to be getting his act together in a pair of 1m2f Newmarket handicaps in June one at a better level than this. Has not looked the same in his last two starts and more needed here after floundering last time.

Form: 532200

(1)

Ray's The Money^v¹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-13| J: Louis Steward| T: M L W Bell| OR: 82

8/1

Has looked as though he needs treating with a bit of caution despite winning twice this year over a mile last time at Haydock. Not really lived up to the promise that he showed when last winning and looked an awkward and hard ride last time out.

Form: 641269

(7)

Alexander M³

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: P J McDonald| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 79| BF| D

11/10

Seemingly going from strength-to-strength in a busy year (this will be his 13th run) and has really hit form of late winning three out of last five. Avoids a penalty here for his recent Chester win and can progress but won't want to mix it with other front runners.

Form: 215131

Forecasts

Alexander M (11/10), Mulligatawny (5/1), Sands Chorus (6/1), Monticello (13/2), Ray's The Money (8/1), Jacbequick (14/1), Mutamaded (50/1)

A fascinating tactical battle on a course that favours front runners on the round course and there are three here that like to go forward and it’s hoped they don’t all take one another on. Sands Chorus is unbeaten round here over this trip and Mulligatawny is another who looks better when taking a prominent role. ALEXANDER M is the third member of the field that love to front run although he could just track the leaders here and looks nicely weighted without a penalty for his Chester win. Monticello is the other Johnston runner and he’s not totally written off on the basis of his Newmarket form while the difficult looking Ray’s The Money would be the beneficiary if all the pace collapses at all.